During his official visit to North Carolina earlier this month, Derek Dixon walked onto the Smith Center floor and looked up at the honored and retired jerseys, and ACC and NCAA championship banners in the rafters. After returning home to Washington, D.C., he told Inside Carolina, “I can’t imagine what it’s liked packed out with 22,000 people going crazy.”
Well, he’ll get that chance in a little more than a year. On Friday, Dixon committed to Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels, making his announcement on the 247Sports channel by revealing a Tar Heel shirt and hat. He’s UNC’s first high school commitment since Ian Jackson (Jan. 2023).
“The opportunity was there, the platform is there,” Dixon told Inside Carolina about his Tar Heel commitment. “And I think Coach Davis, the type of coach he is, the type of role model he is, were all huge factors in my decision.”
The No. 49-ranked player in the senior class by 247Sports, Dixon chose UNC over offers from Arizona, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, and Virginia, among others. He’s the Tar Heels’ first high school commitment from the DMV (greater Washington, D.C. area) since Anthony Harris in the class of 2019.
“Derek is multidimensional and defensively he can guard his yard… that means he can play anywhere in the country,” said his head coach at Gonzaga, Steve Turner. “What’s good about his game is he has really good pace. He can play fast, slow, or intermediate paces, but he just doesn’t get sped up. (We’re) going to push him to be even better … we need Derek to push the break and put pressure on teams. That’s where I’ll have him trying to grow even more.”
“Great stock, good family, a 4.0 GPA kid, and fits everything Carolina wants. He does a little bit of everything for us … but Derek’s superpower is shooting. He’s one of the, if not the, best shooters in the class.”
UNC’s pursuit of Dixon began after his strong showing at the EYBL stop in Indianapolis this past May. In control, smooth, and a dangerous shooter, Dixon’s poise caught the eye of UNC assistants Jeff Lebo and Brad Frederick. Not even 48 hours after the event ended, Dixon was on the phone with Hubert Davis for the first time, learning he had an offer from the Tar Heels.
After prior visits to Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Virginia, Dixon’s post-summer official trips were to Vanderbilt and then UNC the weekend of Sept. 6. That Chapel Hill trip was the last visit of his recruitment, but also served as the first visit weekend of a busy fall itinerary for the Tar Heels.
Dixon averaged 15.2 points, 3.3 assists on the EYBL circuit with Team Takeover
“Whoever gets him will win a lot of games with him,” 247Sports national recruiting analyst Brandon Jenkins said. “He’s really efficient when he runs point guard, and he’s a guard who plays within himself. He’s exceptionally skilled and knows how to play with others. He has a winning approach to the game, he’s strong, makes open shots, and is very team oriented. He’s not the five-star guy, but just has the winning effect on teams.”
